Dogs are omnivores and they prefer meat. They like to eat meat, but occasionally they can eat some fresh vegetables. Of course, the dogs can’t eat everything, and some foods can make dogs allergic.
1. Which dogs are prone to food allergies?
Breeds of dogs that are prone to food allergy include Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Collie, Schnauzer, Chinese Shar-Pei, West Highland Terrier Dogs, soft-brown wheat terriers, boxer dogs, Dalmatian dogs, and German shepherds.
2. What are the symptoms of dog food allergies?
Common food allergy symptoms are: Angioneurotic edema will occur on lips, tongue, face, ears, eyelids, conjunctiva, etc. Edema may cause pruritus or no. In addition, systemic urticaria may occur after a few minutes after taking in allergic food.
3. Which foods are prone to food allergies?
There are many foods that cause dog allergies. Beef, chicken, lamb, eggs, dairy products, etc., and beef is the majority of allergen in the meat. There’re studies have found that some plant allergens, such as soybeans, corn, wheat, and tomatoes, can also cause allergies to dogs.
4. What should I do if my dog has a food allergy?
Dog allergy and human allergy are similar because the pathogenesis involved in allergies is more complicated, even if it is difficult to use drugs, it is very difficult to completely cure. The most effective way is to stop feeding allergic foods for their whole life to prevent allergies in dogs from the source. It is best to fast and take only distilled water before changing food, and strictly eliminate other food sources during food change.
How to do allergen testing for dogs?
- Professional test
A veterinarian can help to do a saliva test (or buy a home kit to test by yourself) to measure common food allergen antibodies, which helps us quickly identify the source of the dog’s stimuli. This is a non-invasive and effective method for determining food allergens.
- Food resource elimination test
Food resource elimination is another non-invasive method. It takes 4 to 6 months, we need to test continually, observe the reaction after feeding the dog, and gradually remove the common allergens listed on the common food allergen chart. After a week or two of the basic diet, observe dog behavior or changes in the skin so that you can basically determine the dog’s allergen.
Summary
From the moment we bring the dog home, we must be responsible for its health. A healthy, sunny dog will make your life more interesting, and taking time to rule out food allergies will eventually for you and your dogs. That can help to save time, money, and discomfort, and it’s very worthwhile. If your dog has symptoms of allergies, then take action and find allergens! We also list the pet feeding mistake in our article.
To keep the dog healthy and happy. The owners are suggested to choose the low-sensitive foods. Dogs with a history of allergies should be fed with low-sensitivity formula food in time. Also, we should control the dog’s diet, and do enough exercise, that can ensure the dog’s good health and body shape.
